Switch casing and cover lock



R. K. MASON.

SWITCH CASING AND COVER LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2,1920.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEEVT 1.

R. K. MASON.

SWITCH CASING AND COVER LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1920.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- lGE"-E i /Z &

Qttomwuo S! m vawboz R. K. MASON.

SWITCH CASING AND COVER LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2,1920.

Patented Aug. 1, 192 2.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- To concern:

' citizen of-the United States, residing at,

UNnEosTAijs PA E f r RALPHK. MASON, or BANTAM, CONNECTICUT," ASSIGIN'OR or omm o JOHN LANCASTER, or, 'LI'ronrIELn, CONNECTICUT;

Belt known that; I, RALPH K.

MAsoN, a

Bantam, in the county-of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Casings and Cover Locks and- I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of'the -invention,-such as will enable-others skilled in the art to which it v appertainsto'inake and use the same.

'My inventionrelates to: improvements in electric switches andv more particularly to those of the" enclosed; safety type.

In the construction of buildings, par-v ticularly poured cement structures, inwhich there is much confusion and dirt and in which it is necessary toin stall the electrical conduits and outlet boxes at the tiine the walls are poured, the usual forms of 1 switches are'subject toinjury and damage. it completely installed before the greater part of the building is completed, and the trade today lacks an enclosed safety switch in which a .partof the casing'can be installed when-erecting the building, while 'permitting the installation of the other switch parts and casing parts when the building is substantially completed and roofed.

My invention: aims to overcome this difii culty by the provision of a switch comprising a rear casing section carrying fixed contacts and binding posts and. adapted to .be

installed in. a wall or the like when the latter is constructed, and a front casing section carrying-fusible switch ,means and a door for givingacce'ss thereto for 're- -fusing,- said front ,"casing-' section, switch.

' the rear section at anytime after the latter means and door being app1icable' bodily to is installed. The rear sections of-the'seyeral switches necessary, which sections communicate with the usual conduits, may thus be set in'the wall'substantially flush therewith, but it is not-necessary to apply the 'remainifng switch structure until the conditions are such that there is no danger of n uFy thereto, and whenfthe latter parts Specification of Letters Patent.

'mounted in the Wall,

'ment of switch parts and that theyflwill cooperate with the rear cas- 1 1ng sectlon in either position.

the door above referred trols the means for locking'the casing secswrrcn CASING AND cov'nn Locx.

Pate'nted Aug. 1, 1922.

Application filed June 2, 1920. Serial No. 38 6, 126. I

are to be applied, this niay be rapidly and easily done since all 'work ing parts are mounted within the front sections of the switch casings.

Another object isto form the connecting means between the front and rear caslng sections, as 'to'permit the latter to be installed either end up, this-being of great advantage since unskilled laborers insert- 111% the casing sections while erecting the wa ls, need not take care to install them in one position only. Regardless of the posltlon 1I 1 Wl1iCh the rear casing section is the front section is applicable thereto in the position at which it is intended to operate, and the arrangecontacts is such A further object of the invention is provide for detachably connecting the front and rear casing sections and to makev novel provision for positively preventing detach- 7' ment. of the front section and the switch' parts carried. thereby, until such switch parts are entirely free'dfrom the fixed contacts of the rear casing section. It is thus impossible to slowly separate the movable contacts from the fixed contacts and consequently no injurious" and dangerous arcing can occur. In this connection, another aim of the lnventlon is. to control the connecting means of the two casing sectlons by a door which is employed forgiving'access to interior switch parts for re-fusing, and in'the .,,?preferred form I of construction, interlock-- ing means are provided between themoving 1 switch parts'and the door, preventing open such, door. until the's'witch' is m .tirely opened.

. Yet another object is to provide a switch in which-part; of theconnecting means for thegcasingj sections acts also as means for positively locking the door against being pried open.

A. still further object is to provide a con struction and arrangement of parts in which tov not only con- 0 closing of the switch while said door stands in 0 en position. I

ith the foregoing and otherminor objects in view, the invention resides in the construction and combinations hereinafter described and claimed, the descriptive matter beingsupplemented by the accompanya ing drawings which illustrate the switch as now manufactured, although it is to be understood that the disclosure is for illustrative purposes only and that the inventive features claimed may be embodied in other forms.

Figure l of the drawings is a front elevation of an enclosed safety switch constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2- is a side elevation of the switch showing the rear section thereof inset in a wall.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but I illustrating the door in open position, which is necessary before the casing sections can be either separated or connected with each other.-

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing more i particularly the pivoted'latch arm used for positively locking the two casingsect'ions to%ether and for locking the door closed.

ig. 5 is a side elevation with parts in section on the plane of line 5-5 of Flg. 1. Fi 6 is a vertical section taken sub stantially on the line (B -6 of Fig. 1, showing all parts assembled for use, the switchbeing closed and consequently the door and the connecting means of the casing sections, being held against release.

Fig. 7 is a view-similar to Fig. 6 but cut substantially on the'irregular .line 7-7 of Fig. Lillustrating the switch in open p0 sition, in which position the "door may be opened andthe connecting means of the easing sections released.

Fig: 8 is a duplicate of Fig. 7 with the exception that it shows the door opened and the two sections of the casing in juxtapo sition.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are horizontal sectional views cut on the planes designated by the lines 9--9, 1010 and 11--11 of Fig. 6. j Fig. 12 is a sectional view out horizontall on substantially the line 12-,-12 ofv Figf 8, s owing the casing sections detached and the connecting means thereof released.

showing more particularly arts of'the connecting means between said sections, which means are engageable when the rear section is turned to either of two positions.

a Fig. 15 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the front casing section disclosing principally the slot through which the latch arm for the casing sections extends.

In the drawings above briefly described,

in order to securely hold them together.

the numeral 1 designates the rear section of the. casing, while '2 has reference to the front section carrying all moving switch parts. l

tions. As shown for instance in Fig.' 2,

the section 1 of the casing may be set in a wall 5, substantially flush with the latter, while the conduits l may be completely embedded insaid wall.

The upper and lower ends or other opposite sides of the casing section 1 are pro vided with inwardly extending pins 6, two of these pins being disposed at one end and two at the other in the same spaced relation,

making both ends of the casing practically.

identical so that it may be installed in either of two positions and will not necessitate that only one specified side be disposed in a cer- I Fixed contacts 7 are mounted.

tain direction. in the casing section 1 and are so located that regardless of the position in which the latter is installed, they will properly coact with the'movable contacts 8 mounted within the front casingsection- 2. A one-piece base 9 is by preference employed for securely 'mountin the contacts 7 in the casing section .1, but obviously other constructions might be used.

The front section 2 of the casing is, in the present showing, receivable within the front I portion of the rear section 1, one end of said section 2having a pair of spaced openings 10 to receive either pair of the pins 6,

while the other end of said section is provided withsimilarly spaced notches 11 to receive the other pair. By angling the two casing sections, the one 'set of pins may be inserted into the openings 10, while complete movement of said sections into proper rel'a tion will position the other pins in the notches I 11. I prefer to.employ the.pins 6, openings '10 and notches 11, but in some forms of construc tion, other details might be used In all instances, however I prefer that opposite sides of one casing section shall be provided with substantially identical fastening means.

that one side of the other casing section shall be shaped to engage either of said fastening means, and that the other side of said other sectlon'shall be engageable with the remain i ing fastening means. Ipreferthatconnection Figs, 13 and --14 are perspective views.

of the two casing sections be effected by first an'glingthe two andthen forcing them into proper relation, since it is then only neces-' sary to lock said sections against angling,

' ,The' means for locking the casing sections 1. and v2 in operative position, may assume any adequate form, but I prefer that such locking means shall becooperative with the door 12 of the section 2, to such an extent 1,424,579 I B v as to be held positively against release until said dooris opened. In most instances, 1

provide means for locking the door 12 closed until the switch is entirely free from the contacts 7 and it will thus be seen that since said door mustbe opened to release the section locking means of the casing and such door cannot be opened until the switch-is opened, the two casing sections 1 and 2 cannot be detached without first opening the switch. Consequently thereis no danger of any arcing occurring when detaching the front casing section from the rear, for' instance if it is,.necessaryto makeup-airs;-

As a preferred form' of the means for looking the two sections 1 and 2 together, I

have shown a latch arm 13-p'ivoted between its ends at 14 to one side of the section 2,

said arn'n being formedv at its rear'end for locking engagement with the rear casin' section 1 in any preferred'manner, but preferably by having a hook 15 to take over one of the pins 6 and hold such pin within its respective notch 11. The outerend of the latch lever 13 extends through a slot 16 in the front wall 17 of thecasing section 2,

; and the door 12 which normally covers said 1 being turned to' an inactive position; i l have v as wall 17, is provided with any suitable means,

such as a slot 18, for engaging said end of. the arm and holding it against movement" 1 until :the'dOor is opened.

I prefer that the front end the latch arm 13 shall be provided with a 'detent '19 against any opening movement", whatsoever,

switch'parts with which it is interlocked.

If desired, an -suitable seal-maybeused ins stead of a padlock, such seal being passed through an opening 21 i'nthe latch arml l 'i'.

In order to hold the latch arm'13 against accidental release vwhen the door 12 is .op-

ened, ll preferably provide-brie side of its guiding slot '16' with a shoulderl22 which is shown most clearly, in 'Figs. tand 15." shown in Fig. 4, the arm. 13 -'cannot move to released positionuntil it is' first sprung clear of the shoulderf22. l mayfalsoiif'desired, provide means for positively holding the latch-arm 16 againstfrelease' by un-an thofriz'edpersons, and 1'- have' shown such means in the form of a screw 23 (seeFigs. .4, 6 and 11 threaded through the side. of the casing section 2 .towhioh said am is pivot-. ed. When 'tlii sjs'cr'ewfi's threaded through v the casing sulficien'tlypit is in the path of the} arm 13 and consequently the latter i'cannot be released, and an, appropriate. ,seal' maybe used for holding the screw against shown an opening.24 through the -h'ea id of the 'screw 23 adj aoe nt'an. apertured lug f on the casing section 2, for the purpose of receiving a seal of ordinary form. When the screw 23 is threaded far enough intothe casing a padlock may be inserted in the I large opening in lug 25 so that it will stand in the way of the removal of the screw 23 and hence a more securefastener will be provided than a mere seal.

The door 12 is preferably mounted on hinges 26 and these hinges are secured to the casing section 2, so that said section and door vare applicable to and removable from the rear casing section 1, as a single unit which also comprises the movable switch parts. These partsmay of course vary but they are preferably of substantially vthe form shown in my pending United States application Serial No. 309,280, filed July 8th, 1919. The contacts or switch blades 8 are carried by a movable base 27 which is mounted on parallel'linkage including twolinks 28 and two similar links 29, the latter serving also'as crank arms for operating the switch; The links 28 are pivoted at one iend to the base 27 and at their other ends to the casing section 2, and the arms 29 are pivoted at one end to said base while their other ends are fixedly mounted on a rock sha'ft 30 having an operating handle 31 on theexterior of the casing, One of the arms .28 carries a fiat sided lug or the like 32 operable in a keyholeslot 33 which is formed in'a door-looking link 34, such-link being pivoted to the door 12, at 35. This locking mechanism is also disclosed in the application abovereferred to, and hence 1 it will suffice to state that whenthe switch is in closed position locks the door against opening, when theswitch is opened, it -per-. mlts opening of the door, and while said doorj stands opened, it prevents closingof theswitcht Since the door in question controls the opening of the casing lock 13, the switch-controlled locking means for the door also controlssaid means 13fiindirectly, preventing release' thereof when the switch .is closed.

In'the present application, I have showh af switchof quick-break nature, in which the moving switch parts are heldin closed position against the tension of a spring36 acting on any of the switch moving parts, in the present 1nstan'ce upononef of .thearms 29. A spring latch 37 serves to hold the switch closed against the action of the spr1ng36 and it will thus be. seen that when as'seen in Fig; 6, and this disc is provided with oirculnferentially spaced shoulders 4:0 between which a pin 41 on the handle 31 is movable, said pin passing through. a slot 42 in the front 'cas1ngsection2' andcOactsaid latch is'released, the spring will rapidly i ,move the base 27 to switch-open position. The latch 37 preferably acts on a shoulder as on a disc 39 carried by the met shaft 30' ing with the shoulders 40 of the disc 39 to provide for lost motion between the handle 31 and the shaft 30, said handle being loosely mounted on said' shaft in any preferred manner. I

This lost motion' is of use in permitting the handle 31 to be moved substantially from switch-closed to switch-open position and then releasing the latch 37 by means of said handle, for which purpose the handle is provided with anappropriate'cam 43. The construction just briefly described for closing the switch against spring tension and quickly opening the same under the action of the spring, is protected by my United States application, Serial No. 386,125, filed June 2, 1920, and hence need not be amplified in the present case. Similarly the movable contacts 8 are mounted on the base 27 and connected by fuses 44, in a manner forming no part of the present application but disclosed fully in Serial No. 309,280, above referred to.

The general operation of, the switch is as.

follows, assuming that theswitch parts-are in circuit-making position as shown in Fig.

6. \Vith the parts in this position, the lug" 32 and the link 34 lock the door 12 against lock the door against opening and consequently the latter will hold the latch 13 in inactive position; I prefer however to employthe parts 32 and 34 in all instances- Vhen the switch is to be opened, the handle.

31 is moved towardthe word OFF. appearing on the door 12 or at' 'any other suitable place. greater part of thismovementjbutlcward the end of 'such movement,"the cam 43 strikes and releases the latch37 aswill be clear from Figs. 2 and 3. The spring 36- then immediately comes into play to open the switch, at the. same time projecting the fuses 44 through an opening 45 in'the front wall 17 of the casing section 2. The mova ble base 27 is at the same time moved for wardly to cover the opening 45, preventing any access to interior parts when the door 12 is opened. Opening of this door may now be effected since the lug 32 then stands longitudinally of the slot 33 as seen in: Fig. 7.. Before the door can be opened however it is.

necessary to remove the seal or lock from the latch arm 13 and spring the latter tcfree the detent 19. When the door is now opened to the position of Figs. 3 and 8, the

The handle idles throughout the fuses 44 are accessible for renewing and the latch arm 13 is held against accidental release by the shoulder 22, even though the locking screw 23'is not used. If it is now desired to detach the front casing section, the latch arm maybe moved by hand from the locking position shown in Figs. 10 and 11 to the released position of Fig. 12, whereupon the casing section 2 may be angled to first withdraw the notches 11 from their respectivepins 6 and to then disengage the other pins 6 from the openings 10. The switch being now entirely opened, there is no danger of arcing such as would occur if the movable contacts 8 were permitted to be.-moved slowly away from the fixed contacts 7, while separating the two 'casing sections. 7 l

'Afiter opening the'door 12 at any time, the base 27 and its operating means cannot move to close the switch until the door is closed, due to the relation of thelug 32 and slot 33, depicted in Fig. 8. As soon as'the door is closed however the switch may be closed and when this takes place the door is automatically locked against opening. Attentionmay here be directed to the fact that since the latch arm 13 must project through the-slot :18; door- 12 cannot be closed with said latch arm in an inactive position.

I attach great importance totheffollowin'g: Therear casing section 1 maybe 1nstalledwhen the building is erected; the

frontcasing section 2 permanently carries the .re-fusing do0r12 and the fusible switch two casingsebtions together; the latch arm 13- cannot he accidentally releasedwhen the door 12 stands opened and said door cannot be closed when saidlatcharm is in any but effective position] The switch is truly a safety switch and in addition to possessing this and the several other advantages above pointedout after installation, it isof great advantage to the contractor and may be manufactured and marketed to great advantage.

While in the foregoing and ;in the claims I' have used the terms'such as fuse and fusible switchmeansf I wish it understood that any equivalent of a fuse may be substituted, since it is obvious that the circuit may be automatically interrupted or broken at any predetermined amperage or load by any suitable means. v e

Since excellent results'have been obtained when manufacturing the switch accord- 'ance with the present disclosure, the several featuresof novelty preferably assume the and in all instances, itis not necessary-that the novel casing structure be limited-to use in connection Wlth SWltOhGS, although this is the principal intent;

' I claim 1; In a switch, a rear casing section carrying contacts, fusible switch means and a doorgiving access thereto for re-fusing,a front casing section carrying both said switch means and said door and forming therewith an integral unit applicable" bodily to said rear sectiomand means for securing 'saidfront and rear sections together;

2. In a switch, a rear casing section carrying a pair of contacts, a. movablevbase carrying a pair of contacts for separable engagement with said first named contacts, a fuse between said base-carried contacts, a door for giving access to the fuse, a front casing section in which said base is mounted and by which said door is carried, said, front section, said base' and said doorl forming a single integral unit applicable bodily to said' rear section, and means for securing said casing sections together. j

. 3. In a switch, a rear casing sectioncarrying contacts, fusible switch means and a door giving access thereto for refusing, a

front casing section equipped with said switch means and door and formingtherewithfa single integral-"unit applicable bodily to saidrear section, andgme'ans unden-the control of said door'for securingsa'id casing a a latch arm; pivoted' tcsaid front section and engaging said rear section to lock the sections together. J j H J 4. In a switch, a rear cas1ngsect1oncarry ing. contacts, a front casing section equipped with'fusible, switch ineans co oper'able with said contacts, means tori-locking saidsec- 4 tions together, means for lockin'gthefswitch in open position while re-fusing, and 'a inulti-function door fonpermitting re-fus ,fQI. giving access thereto for-'re-fusing, and

ing, for applying said switch locking means when thedooris opened; and for locking said section docking means against release 1 when said door is closed;

5, In a switch, front-and rear ,casing'sections engageable when turned to either of two positions, separable switch units carried by said casing, sections respectively. and engageable when said sections are assembled I carrying cont-acts, a l front casing section carrying fusible switch means and a-door "for givingaccess' thereto for re-fusing,and

in either of said positions, andconncting means for-said sections operable in either ofgageable when said'sections' are assembled in either-of said positions, andlocking means at one side of one casing section engag'eable with either side of -the'other section.

7 in a switch, front and rearlicasingsec-w tions engageable when turned to: either be two positions, separable switch units carried by said casing sections respectively and en'- Igageable when said'sections are assembled in either of said positions,'means controlled by relative movement of the casing sections for securing either side of onesection to one side of the other. section, and means for locking other sides of said sections together.

8.- In a switch, front and rear casing sections engageable when turned to either 10f two'positions, separable switch units carried by said casing sections respectively and en gageable when said sections are assembled in either ofsaid positions, one of said sec-,

tions having "similar projections at opposite sides and the corresponding sides of the I other section having anopen'lng anda notch respectively to receive said pro ections when the sections are assembled ii -either position, and means for locking the notch-received projection in thenotch.

' together, said' locking means having means engaging said..door forifl-normally holding the latter "closed and for preventing-release of said locking meansuntil said door.-is

opened. ,I

10. In 'aswitch, arear casing, section carrying contacts, a front casing. section carrying fusible switch means and a, door forgiving access thereto for .re-fusing, and

two together, said door having means to engage said arm andholdit against release until the door is closed.

ice 1 ice j r llnln a switch; a rear casing section carrying contacts, 3 a, front casing section carryin fusible switch. means and adoor a'latch arm pivoted to said front section and engagingfsaidrear section .to lock the closed; [said projecting arm and carrying means for normally holding said door closed.

, '12. In a -switch, a .rear casing section means carried by said front casing; section i for locking it to the rear section, said doorhavingmeans for hold ng sa d lockingmeans "against release until such door is two together, said door having a slotthrou h U which one end of said arm projects to ho d such arm against'release when thedooris' 1'15 opened, and said front section having means topreventaccidental release of said iock- ,ingmeans whenthe door is opened.

13. In a switch, a rear casing section iso carrying contacts a front casing section section having a slot through which said .arm pro ects, said slot having a shoulder to hold said arm against accidental release when the door stands open, said door having means to engage said arm and hold it against release until the door is opened.

14. In a switch, a rear casing section carrying contacts, a front casing section switch-containing casing havingia door,

carrying switch means, means for,detachably connectingthetwo sections, and means positively preventing detachment of said sections untilthe switch means, is entirely freed from'the contacts. Y

15.In a switch, a rear casing/section carrying contacts, a front casing section my hand.

carrying fusible switch means and a door for givi'n access thereto for re-fusing, door controlle means for locking the two casing sections together until the door is opened, and means for locking Said door closed untilthe switch is opened.

16. In an enclosed switch, a sectional switch-containing casing'having a door, and door controlled means for locking the casing sections together until the door is opened. i

17. In an enclosed switch, a sectional switch controlled means for locking said" door, and door-controlled means for locking the casing sectionstogether,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set a RALPH MASON. 

